'Arrogant' husband 'killed Miss Switzerland finalist wife in rage and pureed body parts in blender'

A husband allegedly butchered his former Miss Switzerland wife because he refused to accept she wanted a divorce, it's been claimed. Marc Rieben, 43, demanded full-time custody of the two children he shared with wife Kristina Joksimovic, 38, and denied any financial support to her during their separation talks, according to an indictment filed by Baselland Public Prosecutor's Office. It came among a backdrop of persistent abuse, with a history of violence toward Kristina, her friends claimed. Rieben killed his wife in February 2024 in a violent rage. He later dismembered her body, and "pureed" some of her body parts in an industrial blender, the autopsy said. Kristina's body showed signs of blunt force trauma, and there were bruises to her legs and cuts on her face, it added. Some of her hair had also been torn out. The murder immediately followed a row over the divorce proceedings, the court papers said. The row escalated, and Rieben later strangled Kristina to death with a "ribbon-like object". Her body parts were then dismembered using garden shears, a knife, and a jigsaw. YouTube videos were being played on Rieben's phone while he was allegedly dismemebering her. He also allegedly careful removed her womb from her torso, investigators alleged. It was a "deliberate mutilation or ritualised degradation of the body", they claimed. Ahead of Rieben's trial tomorrow, some of Kristina's closest friends have revealed more intimate details about their relationship. "'She was really in love at the beginning, but I was a bit surprised when she got into a relationship with him as he didn't suit her at all," one told the Daily Mail . "He came across as really introverted, very critical and sometimes quite arrogant. "He was really derogatory with her, with gestures, words and even his tone… he wanted Kristina to disappear." The former Miss Switzerland finalist also reportedly told friends that her relationship was going badly. She tried to convince him to go to couple's therapy, but he either left halfway through sessions, or simply refused to turn up, friends said. Kristina even had to call the police on one occasion, because Rieben was violent and threatening, they added. One of her friends also said he "hates feminity", after refusing to let their kids wear "feminine clothing". It was Kristina's dad that made the gruesome discovery in the basement of the Basel home. He grew concerned when she didn't arrive at kindergarten to pick the kids up, so went to the house. Rieben claimed he didn't know where she was, and invited her dad inside while he finished cooking dinner. But while Rieben was speaking to his mother-in-law on the phone, Kristina's dad investigated the house room by room. He came to the basement, and found a large black bin bag with blonde hair coming out of the top. When he opened it, he found his daughter's severed head. Rieben later claimed he killed his wife in self-defence, and mutilated her body "in a panic". He was having a "positive" conversation with Kristina, before she suddenly grabbed a knife and tried to attack him, he claimed. A forensic psychologist later dismissed his claim, saying most victims of sudden attacks phone the police immediately. The trial is due to begin tomorrow in Muttenz, Switzerland, and is expected to last five-and-a-half days.